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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011 |

Only a month after the introduction of theimproved R8 LMS Ultra and Audi has revealed plans to compete in the FIA GT1 World Championship next year with two examples of its latest GT3 racecar, which will be independently fielded by Team WRT.The announcement comes after a recent decision by the FIA GT Commission and World Motor Sport Council to develop uniform regulations between the FIA GT1 World and FIA GT3 European Championships, thus allowing the R8 LMS Ultra to fight for a world champion’s title of its own for the first time.
"We very much welcome the decision of the FIA World Motor Sport Council on December 7th in favour of the GT3 cars," said Werner Frowein, Managing Director of quattro GmbH.
"In the future, this vehicle class will not only stand for high-calibre national and European customer sport but also for the world’s pinnacle in GT racing. We are delighted that Team WRT has submitted its entry for the World Championship and will be representing the colours of Audi Sport customer racing."
WRT said that it is planning to select and announce its drivers for the championship before the end of December.
The provisional race calendar for the championship follows below.
2012 FIA GT1 World Championship
Round 1: Apr 08 Nogaro (France)
Round 2: Apr 22 Zolder (Belgium)
Round 3: May 27 Navarra (Spain)
Round 4: Jul 08 Algarve (Portugal)
Round 5: Aug 26 Peking (China)
Round 6: Sep 02 Ordos (China)
Round 7: Sep 16 Moscow (Russia)
Round 8: Oct 07 Zandvoort (Netherlands)
Round 9: Nov 25 San Luis (Argentina)
Round 10: TBA

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THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013 |

Audi will bring an ultra-light, high-performance TT Coupe study to this year’s GTI Wörthersee meet, held between May 8 and 11 in Reifnitz, Austria. According to Audi, the TT Ultra Quattro Concept combines minimal weight and maximum sportiness.

The specs seem to back this statement, as the TT Ultra Quattro Concept is powered by a 2.0 TFSI engine developing 310 horsepower and 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) of torque between 1,900 and 5,000 rpm. Not impressed? Well, the car weighs only 1,111 kg (2,449 lbs), meaning its power-to-weight ratio is a remarkable 3.6 kg/hp.

Consequently, it can sprint from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 4.2 seconds, 1.3 seconds faster than the series-production model and only 0.1 seconds slower than the hardcore TT RS Plus. Top speed is 280 km/h (173.98 mph).

Audi engineers managed to shed 300 kg (661 lbs) from the series-production car thanks to the use of carbon-fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) in the rear end, the center tunnel, in the B-pillar and in the roof, among other measures. The concept also has magnesium components in the floor and as hinge reinforcement.

Aesthetically, the Audi TT Ultra Quattro Concept comes with modified spoilers, a carbon rear wing with a milled aluminum base, plus a special crystal white body color. The bonnet, roof, lower sides and the trunk are made of CFRP, as are interior components such as the door trim, center console and the cross-bracing that replaces the rear seat bench.

The TT study has bucket seats from the R8 GT, with their fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) chassis further reducing weight by 22 kg (48.50 lbs). The interior does not lack modern amenities though, with air conditioning, electric windows and an electromechanical parking brake being standard equipment on the TT Ultra Quattro Concept.

Like a number of other Wörthersee Tour  concepts, this Audi TT showcar will not be built. However, the carmaker admits that usage of similar weight-saving technologies is conceivable for future small-batch series.

By Dan Mihalascu

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